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Armstrong DL, Lozano N, Rice CP, Ramirez M, Torrents A. Temporal trends of perfluoroalkyl substances in limed biosolids from a large municipal water resource recovery facility. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2016; 165:88-95. [PMID: 26413802 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Revised: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
While the recycling of wastewater biosolids via land-application is a sustainable practice for nutrient recovery and soil reclamation that has become increasingly common worldwide, concerns remain that this practice may become a source of toxic, persistent organic pollutants to the environment. This study concentrates on assessing the presence and the temporal trends of 12 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), pollutants of global consequence, in limed Class B biosolids from a municipal water resource recovery facility (WRRF), also know as a wastewater treatment plant. PFASs are of significant concern due to their extensive presence and persistence in environmental and biotic samples worldwide, most notably human blood samples. Class B biosolids were collected from the WRRF, prior to land-application, approximately every two to three months, from 2005 to 2013. Overall, this study found that concentrations of the 7 detectable PFAS compounds remained unchanged over the 8-year period, a result that is consistent with other temporal studies of these compounds in sewage sludges. From these analyzed compounds, the highest mean concentrations observed over the study period were 25.1 ng/g dw, 23.5 ng/g dw, and 22.5 ng/g dw for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), respectively, and these compounds were detected at concentrations 2.5-5 times higher than the remaining, detectable PFASs. Furthermore, it was observed that PFOS, while demonstrating no overall change during the study, exhibited a visible spike in concentration from late 2006 to early 2007. This study indicates that concentrations of PFASs in WRRFs have been stagnant over time, despite regulation. This study also demonstrates that the use of glass jars with polytetrafluoroethylene-lined lids, a common storage method for environmental samples, will not influence PFOA and PFNA concentrations in archived biosolids samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana L Armstrong
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, 1173 Glenn L Martin Hall, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Nuria Lozano
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, 1173 Glenn L Martin Hall, College Park, MD, USA; Department of Water and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Cantabria, Avda de Los Castros s/n, Santander, Spain
| | - Clifford P Rice
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, ARS-USDA, 10300 Baltimore Ave, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Mark Ramirez
- DCWater, District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, 5000 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Alba Torrents
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, 1173 Glenn L Martin Hall, College Park, MD, USA.
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Filipovic M, Laudon H, McLachlan MS, Berger U. Mass Balance of Perfluorinated Alkyl Acids in a Pristine Boreal Catchment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:12127-35. [PMID: 26390224 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b03403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Mass balances of ten individual perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs) in two nested pristine catchments in Northern Sweden with different sizes and hydrological functions were assembled for 2011-2012. Concentrations of PFAAs in rain and snowmelt, as well as in streamwater at the outlet of the two watersheds were measured and used to calculate PFAA atmospheric inputs to and riverine outputs from the catchments. The results generally showed a great excess of PFAA inputs for both catchments over the whole study year. However, during the spring flood period, the inputs and outputs were within a factor of 2 for several PFAAs and the streamwater showed PFAA patterns resembling the patterns in rain (as opposed to snowmelt), suggesting that snowmelt water infiltrating the ground had displaced water from the previous summer. Comparison of PFAA mass balances between the two catchments further suggested that atmospheric inputs of short-chain (replacement) perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids had increased in the years before sampling, while inputs of the legacy perfluorooctane sulfonic acid had decreased. Overall, the mass balances indicate that a considerable portion of the PFAAs deposited from the atmosphere are stored in soil and may be released to surface and marine water environments in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Filipovic
- Stockholm University , Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hjalmar Laudon
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) , Department of Forest Ecology and Management, SE-90183 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Michael S McLachlan
- Stockholm University , Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Urs Berger
- Stockholm University , Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ , Department Analytical Chemistry, Permoserstrasse 15, DE-04318 Leipzig, Germany
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53
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Arvaniti OS, Stasinakis AS. Review on the occurrence, fate and removal of perfluorinated compounds during wastewater treatment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 524-525:81-92. [PMID: 25889547 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Revised: 04/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2015] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) consist of a fully fluorinated hydrophobic alkyl chain attached to a hydrophilic end group. Due to their wide use in several industrial and household applications, they have been detected in numerous Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) during the last ten years. The present review reports the occurrence of 22 PFCs (C4-C14, C16, C18 carboxylates; C4-C8 and C10 sulfonates; 3 sulfonamides) in municipal or/and industrial wastewater, originating from 24 monitoring studies. PFCs levels in sewage sludge have also been reported using data from 12 studies. Most of the above monitoring data originate from the USA, North Europe and Asia and concern perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), while limited information is available from Mediterranean area, Canada and Australia. PFCs concentrations range up to some hundreds ng/L and some thousands ng/g dry weight in raw wastewater and sludge, respectively. They are not significantly removed during secondary biological treatment, while their concentrations in treated wastewater are often higher compared to raw sewage. Their biodegradation during wastewater treatment does not seem possible; whereas some recent studies have noted the potential transformation of precursor compounds to PFCs during biological wastewater treatment. PFCs sorption onto sludge has been studied in depth and seems to be an important mechanism governing their removal in STPs. Concerning tertiary treatment technologies, significant PFCs removal has been observed using activated carbon, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis or applying advanced oxidation and reduction processes. Most of these studies have been conducted using pure water, while in many cases the experiments have been performed under extreme laboratory conditions (high concentrations, high radiation source, temperature or pressure). Future efforts should be focused on better understanding of biotransformation processes occurred in aerobic and anaerobic bioreactors and result to PFCs formation and on the application of advanced treatment technologies under conditions commonly found in STPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga S Arvaniti
- Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, Greece
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54
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Mazioti AA, Stasinakis AS, Gatidou G, Thomaidis NS, Andersen HR. Sorption and biodegradation of selected benzotriazoles and hydroxybenzothiazole in activated sludge and estimation of their fate during wastewater treatment. CHEMOSPHERE 2015; 131:117-123. [PMID: 25828067 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2014] [Revised: 03/06/2015] [Accepted: 03/11/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradation of benzotriazole (BTR), 5-chlorobenzotriazole (CBTR), xylytriazole (XTR), 4-methyl-1H-benzotriazole (4TTR), 5-methy-1H-lbenzotriazole (5TTR) and 2-hydroxybenzothiazole (OHBTH) was studied in activated sludge batch experiments under aerobic and anoxic conditions, presence of organic substrate and different sludge residence times (SRTs). Their sludge-water distribution coefficients were also calculated in sorption experiments and ranged between 87 and 220 L kg(-1). Significant biodegradation of BTR, CBTR, XTR and OHBTH was observed in all biotic experiments. Half-life values ranged between 23 and 45 h (BTR), 18 and 47 h (CBTR), 14 and 26 h (XTR), 6.5 and 24 h (OHBTH). The addition of substrate did not suppress biodegradation kinetics; whereas in some cases accelerated biodegradation of microcontaminants. Except for CBTR, no effect of SRT on biodegradation constants was observed. Prediction of micropollutants removal in Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) indicated that they will be partially removed, mainly due to aerobic biodegradation. Higher removal is expected at STPs operating at higher SRT and higher suspended solids concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Georgia Gatidou
- Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, Greece
| | - Nikolaos S Thomaidis
- Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Henrik R Andersen
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Miljøvej, B 113, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
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55
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Wang F, Shih K, Ma R, Li XY. Influence of cations on the partition behavior of perfluoroheptanoate (PFHpA) and perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) on wastewater sludge. CHEMOSPHERE 2015; 131:178-183. [PMID: 25841073 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2015] [Revised: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The effects of different cations on the sorption behavior of PFHpA and PFHxS on two types of sludge were investigated in this study. The sodium and potassium ions did not significantly affect PFHpA and PFHxS sorption on different sludge. For calcium and magnesium, the sorption amount of PFAS increased with calcium and magnesium concentration increasing from 1 to 30 mM and then decreased with those increasing from 30 to 100 mM. The sorption level of PFHxS or PFHpA greatly increased with increasing Al3+ and Fe3+ cation concentrations due to the strong sorption and coagulation effects by the formation of aluminum hydroxide (or ferric hydroxide) colloids or precipitates. After the organics in sludge has been removed by thermal treatment, the PFAS sorption on sludge was greatly reduced. Such finding indicated that sorption to organic matter is more important for anionic PFASs than adsorption to mineral surfaces. However, due to the higher content of biological organics, a secondary activated sludge has higher affinity toward PFAS species than chemically enhanced primary treatment sludge. It indicated that the organic types in sludge were also crucial to the sorption levels of PFASs by sludge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Wang
- School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
| | - Kaimin Shih
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
| | - Ruowei Ma
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
| | - Xiao-yan Li
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
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56
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Brambilla G, D'Hollander W, Oliaei F, Stahl T, Weber R. Pathways and factors for food safety and food security at PFOS contaminated sites within a problem based learning approach. CHEMOSPHERE 2015; 129:192-202. [PMID: 25439130 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.09.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Revised: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and related substances have been listed in Annex B of the Stockholm Convention. The implementation requires inventories of use, stockpiles, and environmental contamination including contaminated sites and measures for (risk) reduction and phase out. In most countries monitoring capacity is not available and therefore other approaches for assessment of contaminated sites are needed. Available informations about PFOS contamination in hot spot areas and its bio-accumulation in the food webs have been merged to build up a worst-case scenario We model PFOS transfer from 1 to 100ngL(-1) range in water to extensive and free-range food producing animals, also via the spread of contaminated sludges on agriculture soils. The modeling indicates that forages represented 78% of the exposure in ruminants, while soil accounted for >80% in outdoor poultry/eggs and pigs. From the carry-over rates derived from literature, in pork liver, egg, and feral fish computed concentration falls at 101, 28 and 2.7ngg(-1), respectively, under the 1ngL(-1) PFOS scenario. Assuming a major consumption of food produced from a contaminated area, advisories on egg and fish, supported by good agriculture/farming practices could abate 75% of the human food intake. Such advisories would allow people to become resilient in a PFOS contaminated area through an empowerment of the food choices, bringing the alimentary exposure toward the current Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of 150ngkg(-1)bodyweightd(-1) proposed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfranco Brambilla
- Istituto Superiore di sanità, Toxicological Chemistry Unit, Viale Regina Elena, 299 I-00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Wendy D'Hollander
- Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicology Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Fardin Oliaei
- Cambridge Environmental Consulting, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Thorsten Stahl
- Hessian State Laboratory, Glarusstrasse 6, D-65203 Wiesbaden, Germany
| | - Roland Weber
- POPs Environmental Consulting, Lindenfirststrasse 23, D-73527 Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany
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57
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Wang Y, Niu J, Li Y, Zheng T, Xu Y, Liu Y. Performance and mechanisms for removal of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) from aqueous solution by activated carbon fiber. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra15853b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The sorption behavior of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) by activated carbon fiber (ACF) in aqueous solution was investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation
- School of Environment
- Beijing Normal University
- Beijing 100875
- PR China
| | - Junfeng Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation
- School of Environment
- Beijing Normal University
- Beijing 100875
- PR China
| | - Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation
- School of Environment
- Beijing Normal University
- Beijing 100875
- PR China
| | - Taojie Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation
- School of Environment
- Beijing Normal University
- Beijing 100875
- PR China
| | - Yi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation
- School of Environment
- Beijing Normal University
- Beijing 100875
- PR China
| | - Ye Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation
- School of Environment
- Beijing Normal University
- Beijing 100875
- PR China
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